Carriage driving and hammer returning mechanism



Feb. 11, 1936. F. SPALOSS ,4

CARRIAGE DRIVING AND HAMMER RETURNING MECHANISM- Filed July 7, 1951 4Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTO/P Frank Spa/05s ATTORNEY Feb. 11, 1936.

F. SPALOSS CARRIAGE DRIVING AND HAMMER RETURNING MECHANISM 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Eiled July 7, 1931 Feb. 11, 1936. sp Loss 2,030,411

CARRIAGE DRIVING AND HAMMER RETURNING MECHANISM Filed July 7, 1931, 4Sheets-Sheet 5 F. SPALoss 2,030,411

CARRIAGE DRIVING AND HAMMER RETURNING MECHANISM Feb. 11, 1936.

Filed July '7, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR F/fl/M Spa/05$. BY 2ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 11, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARRIAGEDRIVING AND HAMIHER RETURNING MECHANISM Application July 7, 1931, SerialNo. 549,210

9 Claims. (01. 197-49) This invention relates to typewriting machinesand more particularly to improved power means for driving the carriageand for restoring the printing hammer against the action of itsactuating spring.

An object of the invention is to provide a device, for the above statedpurpose, with a minimum of parts so that it may be manufacturedeconomically and operated efiiciently.

Another object of the invention is to provide a power means the strengthof which does not vary but is always the same at each operation thereof.

In carrying out the invention the power device comprises a springconnected by suitable means with the carriage and the printing hammer toassist in driving the carriage and to return the hammer after eachprinting operation.

It is a feature of the invention to energize the spring at eachletterspace movement of the carriage to have the action of the springalways the same on the carriage and also to maintain at a minimum thepower of the spring so as not to overburden the carriage escapementmechanism with which the power means is associated.

The storing of the energy in the spring is effected by means under thecontrol of the key levers so that its operation is effected at eachactuation of any one of the key levers. Said means includes anelectro-magnet or solenoid connected through a reciprocatory device withsaid spring.

In the present form of the invention the reciprocatory device includes alever, to which is connected the spring, and upon which is pivotallysupported a pawl which co-operates with a ratchet wheel connected withthe escapement wheel to assist in driving the latter in a positivedirection, said escapement wheel being connected in the usual mannerthrough a dog carrying lever with the printing hammer.

Another feature of the invention relates to carriage release mechanismwhich is simple and compact in construction and is readily accessible.

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings which form part of the specification,

Fig. 1 is a sectional side view of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a sectional top plan view of the ma.- chine, some of the partsbeing broken away and others being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a rear view of the machine, parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a diagram of the electric circuit;

transversely of the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary rear view showing the solenoid operating to cookor set the power means;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the parts carried by the escapementshaft;

Fig. 6 is an operating view showing the carriage release pawldisengaged;

Fig. 7 is a rear view of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a rear view of the pinion sleeve showing its connection withthe escapement shaft.

Similar characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The invention is shown applied to a Vartyper writing machine whichincludes a main frame 20 to which is secured a track 2| upon which acarriage 22 is mounted to travel back and forth The carriage is providedwith a bar 23 which co-operates with the track 2| through anti-frictionrollers or balls 24 to guide said carriage. The carriage is furtherguided by a bar 25 at its upper end co-operating with a roller 21mounted on the main frame 20.

The carriage is urged in a letter feed direction by a carriagepropelling means or spring drum (Figs. 2 and 3) rotatably supported by ashaft 3i on the main frame 20; the spring drum being connected to thecarriage by a strap or draw band. 32. Letter feed movements of thecarriage are effected by escapement mechanism, indicated generally bythe numeral 33, which is actuated at each operation of the key levers34.

The escapement mechanism includes a sleeve slidably supported on a shaft36 supported in a rear cross-bar 31 of the main frame and a lug 38 ofsaid frame. The sleeve 35 has secured thereto three pinions 39, 40 and4! of different diameters to effect variable spacing of the carriage ina manner described in the application of Frank H. Trego, Serial No.361,899, filed May 10, 1929. Any one of the pinions may be engaged by arack 42 carried by two arms 43 pivotally supported on studs 44 oncarriage ends 45. The sleeve 35 has a key 46 (Figs. 5 and 8) securedthereto which engages in a groove 41 of the shaft 36 to rotate the shaft36.

An escapement wheel 48 is rotatively supported on the escapement shaft36 and has secured thereto a ratchet wheel 49 by screws 50. The ratchetwheel 49 is engaged by a pawl 5| pivoted by a screw 52 on an arm 53secured to a hub 54 the latter being fastened to the shaft 36 by a pin55. Thus by this connection the escapement wheel is connected to berotated by the carriage through the medium of the shaft 36 in a letterspace direction. Said escapement wheel is normally held against rotationby a loose dog 56 pivoted by a stud 51 on a lever 58 and urged towardsthe escapement wheel by a spring 56a. The lever 58 is pivoted on theescapement shaft 36, and is urged downward by the escapement wheel t ughthe pawl 56, the downward movement of the lever 58 being limited by astop 59 of a fixed bracket 68 secured to the rear bar 31 of the machineframe. While the carriage is being returned the pawl 5I rides freelyover the teeth of the ratchet 49 against the action of a spring 6Iconnected between an ear 62 of the pawl 5| and a pin 63 on the arm 53. Aspring pressed pawl 64 (Fig. 3) prevents backward rotation of theescapement wheel.

To actuate the escapement mechanism 33 and thus feed the carriage ateach printingoperation, the key-levers 34 when actuated about fulcrums65, engage a universal bar 66 of a frame 61 to swing the latter about afulcrum 68. An arm 69 of the frame 61, when the latter is actuated,swings downwardly to actuate a dog rocker 18, about a pivot 18a, throughthe medium of a set screw 'II on the arm 69 and engaging a tail 12 ofthe dog rocker to carry a fixed dog I3 .into engagement with the teethof the escapement wheel 48.

The dog rocker I8 is provided with an arm I4 having a slot I5 into whichextends a pin I6 from the loose dog 56, whereby the loose dog is swungout of engagement of the escapement wheel; the dog carrying lever 58being connected to a print in'g hammer 11 by means of a stud I8 to beactuated thereby during a printing operation of said hammer which isactuated in a manner hereinafter described. As the pin I6 travelsupwardly out of the slot 15 the dog 56 is guided into the path of thenext succeeding tooth of the escapement wheel under the influence ofthespring 56a, the upward movement of the pawl being limited by a stop I9.Subsequently the dog rocker I8 is brought back to normal upon the returnof the arm 69 to disengage the dog I3 from the escapement wheel,whereupon the escapement parts and the printing hammer 28 are restoredto normal through the action of the escapement wheel 48 on the loose dog56.

The printing instrumentalities include a type carrier or shuttle 88having types 8| with which a head 82 of the hammer 'II co-operates toprint against an interposed work sheet 83, the work sheet being fed upand down by suitable feed rollers 84 and 85 supported on'the carriage22. The type shuttle 88 is curved to conform with a cylindrical anvil 86by which it is carried through the medium of a thin flange 8] extendingthrough a slot 88 in said anvil.

To actuate the type shuttle 88 the flange 81 has connected thereto alever 89 secured to a sleeve 98 to rotate about the shaft 9|; the sleeve98 being supported on a bar 92, of 'the main frame, on which it ismaintained by a screw 93 engaging a flange 94 at the lower end of the'said sleeve.

The shuttle actuating lever 89 may be actuated, from a central position,in opposite directions by either of two arms 95, about the axis of theshaft 9|, said arms being actuated, one at a time, in a mannerhereinafter described to carry the s..- lected type of the shuttle 88 tothe printing point, the types being accurately positioned by means ofindexing pins 96 operable by thekey levers 34 to project their upperends into the path of the shuttle lever 89 to arrest the'latter.Subsequently the hammer is actuated by a spring 96 under the control ofthe escapement mechanism, said hammer being secured to a shaft 91supported by pivot screws 98 on the main frame 28.

Each of the arms may operate the shuttle actuating lever 89 through themedium of a resiliently supported slide 98 which may be like thatdisclosed in the application of Frank H. Trego, Serial No. 412,651,filed December 19, 1929, to facilitate a movement of said arms after thelever 89 has been arrested. Each arm forms part of a frame 91, eachframe being supported to swing about a pivot 99a. on a fixed bracket 99.Each frame 91 also includes a bar I88 extending towards the middle ofthe machine and over the key lever 34 at one side of the middle of themachine, so that if any one of the key levers is operated the associatedone of the frames 95 is actuated thereby against the action of a returnspring I8I. The upper end of the arm 95 is thus swung rearwardly toactuate the lever 89 and shuttle 88 to select the type as abovedescribed.

After the type shuttle is arrested in its operated position the releaseof the printing hammer is effected from the escapement wheel by theactuation of the dog rocker 18 as previously described. It is thenactuated by the spring 96 connected thereto.

The letter spacing of the carriage may be changed in accordance with thevarious sizes of the types of different shuttles which may be used inthe machine, by shifting the sleeve 35 axially on the shaft to cause anyone of the pinions 39, 48 or H to co-operate with the rack 42. To setthe sleeve or pinion element 35 there may be provided suitable selectingmechanism which may be like that'disclosed in the application of FrankH. Trego, Serial No. 361,899, now Patent No. 1,918,299, July 18, 1933,which mechanism includes a lever I82 (Fig. 2) pivoted by a stud I83 onthe machine frame and having two pins I84 engaging in a groove I85 ofthe sleeve 35.

Novel means is provided whereby the rack 42 may be left in engagementwith the active pinion when the release of the carriage is effected. Tothis end a thrust rod or plunger I86 (Figs. 1 and 5) is slidablysupported on the hub 54 at the end of the escapement shaft 36. The innerend of said plunger is provided with an annular cam I8! to engage aninclined portion I88 on the ear 62 of the pawl 5| so that whenthe'plunger I86 is pushed inwardly from the normal position in Fig.

' 5 to the position in Fig. 6 it moves the pawl about the pivot 52, inany position which it may occupy about the axis of the escapement shaft,to disengage said pawl from the ratchet as in Figs. 6 and '7 where theear 62 rides on a dwell I8'I of the cam I81. Thus it will be understoodthat the carriage may be released without disengaging the rack whichwould otherwise disturb the margin or vertical alignment of the typing.

The carriage releasing mechanism connected to actuate the plunger I86may be like that disclosed in the application of Frank H. Trego, SerialNo. 384,603, filed Aug. 9, 1929. Said mechanism includes two carriagerelease levers I I8 supported at opposite ends of the carriage by ashaft I I I supported in the carriage ends 45.

Each release lever III) is actuable in a clockwise direction about theshaft I I I (Fig. 1) against the action of a'return spring (not shown).The lower end of each release lever has a slot II2 (Fig. 1) into whichprojects a pin II3 from an arm II4 pivotally supported on a hub II5 ofthe rack supporting arms 43. The arms II4 have secured thereto a barII6, extending lengthwise of the carriage, Said bar H6 is swung in acounterclockwise direction (Fig. 1) upon the actuation of either releaselever H and engages the end of an arm II1 secured to a shaft H8. The armH1 is located near the middle of the machine so that it may always beengaged by the bar H6 in any position of the carriage. The shaft H8 issupported by a bracket H9 and has another arm I20 secured thereto, thefree end of said arm I20 being connected to said plunger I06 to actuatethe latter. A spr ing I2I is coiled about the shaft IILand acts on thearm II1 to return it to normal.

The dog carrying lever 58 is provided with a hub I22 (Fig. extendinginto a cavity I23 in the escapement wheel 48 to provide a compactarrangement of the parts. It is desirable that the escapement wheel havea broad bearing on the escapement shaft so it is provided with a hub I24and to further keep the mechanism as compact as possible the hub 54 ofthe pawl carrying arm 53 is provided with a cavity into which the hub ofthe escapement wheel extends.

It should be understood that by mounting the release element I06, pawl5I, ratchet 49 and escapement wheel 48 on that portion of the escapementshaft extending outside of the machine frame, or in other words behindthe bar 31 thereof, the parts are readily assembled and are accessiblefor the purpose of repair, the heretofore necessity of removing thetypewriter carriage being thus eliminated.

' The novel means which assists in returning the printing hammerincludes a spring I25 (Fig. 3) one end of which is connected to anadjustable screw I26 on a bracket I21 secured to the rear bar 31 of themachine frame by screws I28. The other end of the spring is connected toa lever I29 pivoted by a stud I30 on said bracket I21, the springtending to rock the lever I29 in a clockwise direction to rotate theratchet 49 and the escapement wheel 48 secured thereto in the samedirection through the medium of a pawl I3I supported on the shoulder ofa headed stud or screw I32, the pawl I3I being held in contact with theratchet 49 by a spring I33.

It will be understood that whenever the lever I29 is actuated incounterclockwise direction, (Fig. 3) the pawl I3I is cocked as in Fig. 4against the action of the actuating spring, said pawl snapping over oneof the teeth ofthe ratchet 49. Thus the spring I25 is energized at eachactuation of the lever I29 in a counter clockwise direction which occursat each letter space movement of the carriage after the printingoperation and is caused by means hereinafter described, under thecontrol of the key levers 34. After the reciprocatory means includingthe lever I29, pawl I3I and spring I25, has been cooked it is releasedand rotates the escapement wheel to restore the print-,

ing hammer 11, against .the action of its spring 96, through the mediumof the dog 56 and the dog supporting lever 58.

To actuate the lever I29 and thus increase the strength of the springI25 there is provided an electro-magnet or solenoid I35 held on the rearbar 31 of the machine frame by straps I36, said straps being secured byscrews I31 and I38. Said solenoid when energized, as hereinafterdescribed, sucks in a plunger I39 to draw on a link I40 pivotallyconnected thereto by a pin MI. The other end of the link I40 isconnected to the lower end of the lever I29, by a shouldered screw I42,to actuate the lever I29 in a clockwise direction when the solenoid isenergized.

block I65 by a screw I61.

To limit the movement of the plunger I39 and its connected parts whenactuated by solenoid I35 (Fig. 4) the lever I29 has bent oif therefrom alip I43 to engage a stop I44 secured to the bar 31 of the main frame,said stop having also a lip I45 with a piece I46 of leather or rubberthereon to be engaged by the lip I43 of the lever I29. To increase theefiiciency of the solenoid it has inserted in one end thereof a core I41secured to a bracket I48 supported on the strap I36, the core having ascrew portion I49, extending freely through said bracket, and upon whichis threaded one or more nuts I50 to hold the plug on said bracket.

The operation of the solenoid is eifected by a normally open switch I55(Fig. 3) which may be closed at the proper time by any one of the keylevers 34 to cause an electric current to flow from a source of supplyI56 (Fig. 3a) through conductor I51, main switch I58, conductor I59,solenoid I35, conductor I60, switch I55, conductor I6I to ground I62.When the actuation of the solenoid is thus effected the escapementactuating mechanism including the pawl I3I is cocked thereby as abovedescribed.

The switch I55 includes a fixed contact I63 to which is connected theconductor I6 I, said contact being resiliently supported by a flatspring I64 on a. block I65 of insulating material secured to bottom ofthe bar 31 of the main frame, by screws I66, the contact spring I64being secured to the The switch further includes a movable contact I68to which is secured the conductor I60. The contact I68'is secured to ablock I69 of insulating material fastened to a metal arm I pivoted by apin "I on the block I65. A spring I12, interposed between the block I65and the arm I10, normally holds the switch I55 open, the pivoted elementof said switch, comprising the parts I69 and I10, being arrested by thehead I13 of a set screw I14 threaded into the block I69 and held in itsadjusted position by a nut I15, said head engaging a finger I16 securedto the arm 69 of the universal for frame 61.

To close the switch I55 the finger I16 presses downwardly on the screwI13, whenever the universal frame 61 is operated by the keylevers 34 asabove described, to swing the pivoted switch element downwardly againstthe action of the spring I12, to cause the contact I68 to engage thecontact I63 and thus close the switch I55 whereupon the solenoid I35operates to cook the pawl I3I against the action of the spring I25 aspreviously described.

It will be understood that as long as the key lever is depressed thesolenoid remains energized and consequently the pawl I3I is held cockeduntil after the printing operation. Immediately upon the return of thekey lever the switch I55 is opened by the spring I12 whereupon thespring I25 becomes active to drive the carriage through the medium ofthe pawl I3I and ratchet 49, and also to return the hammer 11 againstthe action of its spring 96.

Briefly the operation of the device is as follows: Upon the depressionof any one of the .key levers 34 the rear end swings upwardly to actuatethe universal bar frame 61, about the pivots 68, to move the rear endthereof downwardly to actuate the escapement through the medium of thedog rocker 10 which releases the loose dog 56 from the escapement wheel48. The spring 96 then becomes effective to actuate the hammer 11, whichis connected to the frame 58 by the pin 18, to printing position.

During the latter part of the actuation of the universal frame 61 thearm I16 thereon closes the switch I55 to effect the operation of thesolenoid I35 which through the link I40 and lever I29 stretches thespring to energize it, the parts being arrested by the stop I46 withwhich the lever I29 engages.

The switch I68 is then opened by the spring I12 during the early part ofthe return stroke of the operated key lever whereupon the spring I25becomes eifective through the lever I29, pawl I9I and ratchet 49 torotate the escapement wheel 49 and return the frame 58 through the loosedog 56 after the latter has reengaged the escapement wheel. Since theframe 58 is connected with the hammer I1 the latter is returned tonormal, by said frame, against the action of the hammer operating spring96.

Thus the spring I25 of this device, which assists the spring drum 30 infeeding the carriage and returning the hammer 'I'I,is energized at eachletter space movement of the carriage or at each actuation of any one ofthe key levers.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been shown anddescribed, it should be understood that changes in the form,arrangement, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention as defined in the appendedclaims.

I claim:--

1. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, carriagepropelling means, escapement mechariism for the carriage, saidescapement mechanism including a shaft, an escapement wheel on saidshaft, a ratchet wheel on said escapement wheel, a pawl on said shaft toengage said ratchet to form a one way driving connection between theshaft and the escapement wheel; a second pawl to engage said ratchet toassist in feeding the carriage, means including a spring to drive thesecond pawl, key le vers, and means under the control of the key leversto energize the spring at the actuation of any one of the key levers.

2. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printinginstrumentalities including two elements, key-levers, means operable bythe keylevers to effect the operation of one of the printing elementsagainst the other to print on an interposed work sheet, means to returnthe operable printing element to normal, the returning means including aratchet wheel, means connecting the ratchet wheel with the operableelement, a lever, means to pivotally support said lever at the side ofsaid wheel, a pawl supported at the upper end of said lever andextending over said ratchet wheel and operable by said lever to engagesaid wheel to actuate it, a spring connected to said lever to actuatethe latter, an electric device located at the opposite side of theratchet wheel, and a link extending under said ratchet wheel andconnecting the electric device to said lever so that the latter maybeactuated by said electric device to energize said spring.

3. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printinginstrumentalities including two elements, means to actuate one of saidelements to print against the other element, a main frame, a carriage totravel onsaid main frame, escapement mechanism including a shaftsupported on said main frame, means connecting said shaft to be rotatedby said carriage, means to propel said carriage, an escapement wheelrotatably supported on said shaftra ratchet wheel secured to saidescapement wheel, means operable by the escapement wheel to restore theactuable printing element to normal, a pawl carried by said shaft tocooperate with said ratchet to form a one way driving connection betweenthe carriage and the escapement wheel, and auxiliary means acting onsaid ratchet wheel to assist in rotating the escapement wheel to restorethe actuable printing element.

4. In a? typewriting machine, the combination of printinginstrumentalities including two elements, means to actuate one of saidelements to print against the other element, a main frame,

a carriage to travel on said main frame, escapement mechanism includingan escapement wheel, a ratchet secured to the escapement wheel, meansincluding a pawl connected to and operable by said carriage, said pawlcooperating with said ratchet to form a one way driving connectionbetween the carriage and said escapement wheel, means connecting theescapement wheel with the actuable printing element to return the latterto normal, and means to engage said ratchet to actuate the escapementwheel in effecting the return of the actuable printing element.

5. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printinginstrumentalities including two elements, means to actuate one of saidelements to print against the other element, a main frame, a carriage totravel on said main frame, escapement mechanism including an escapementwheel, a ratchet secured to the escapement wheel, means including a pawlconnected to and operable by said carriage, said pawl cooperating withsaid ratchet to form a one way driving connection between the carriageand said escapement wheel, means connecting the escapement wheel withthe actuable printing element to return the latter to normal, drivingmeans including an element to engage said ratchet to effect the returnof the actuable printing element, key levers, and means operable by saidkey levers to effect the energization of said driving means at eachactuation of a key lever.

6. In a typewriting machine, the combination of printinginstrumentalities including two elements, means to actuate one of saidelements to print against the other element, a main frame, a carriage totravel on said main frame,escapement mechanism including an escapementwheel, a ratchet secured to the escapement wheel, means including a pawlconnected to and operable by said carriage. said pawl cooperating withsaid ratchet to form a one way driving connection between the carriageand said escapement wheel, means connecting the escapement wheel withthe actuable printing element to return the latter to normaL'drivingmeans including an element to engage said ratchet to effect the returnof the actuable printing element, key levers, an electrically operabledevice, a normally open switch connected in circuit with said device,and means operable by any one of said key levers to close said switch torender said device effective to effect the energization of the drivingmeans.

'7. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, escapementmechanism therefor, key levers, a printing hammer under the control ofsaid key levers, said escapement including a shaft, an escapement wheelon said shaft, a loose dog, a supporting lever for the loose dog, saiddog cooperating with said escapement wheel, the supporting lever beingconnected with said hammer, a ratchet secured to the escapement wheel,and a pawl on said shaft to engage said ratchet to form a one Waydriving connection between the escapement wheel and said shaft, meansincluding an actuating pawl engaging said ratchet to rotate theescapement wheel and thus actuate the pawl carrying arm to return thehammer, and means operable by the key levers at each actuation of anyone of them to effect the cocking of said actuating pawl.

8. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, escapementmechanism therefor, said escapement mechanism including a ratchet, keylevers, a printing hammer under the control of said key levers, saidescapement including an escapement wheel, a loose dog, and a supportinglever for the loose dog, means connecting the supporting lever of saidescapement with said hammer, a lever of the first order, means includinga pawl operable by the lever of the first order to actuate theescapement wheel through said ratchet, a spring attached to one end ofsaid lever to return the hammer, power means connected to the other endof said lever of the first order and means operable by the key levers toeffect the cooking of said lever of the first order against the actionof its spring by said power means at each actuation of any one of thekey levers.

9. In a typewriting machine, the combination of a carriage, key levers,means operable by said key levers to efiect the feed of the carriage,said means including a rack on said carriage, a shaft, a pinion toengage said rack and connected to rotate with said shaft, an escapementwheel rotatably supported on said shaft, a ratchet connecting with saidwheel, a pawl on said shaft to actuate the ratchet and to form therewitha one way driving connection between said shaft and said wheel, meansincluding an actuating pawl to engage said ratchet, a spring to operatesaid actuating pawl to feed the carriage, and means operable 'by the keylever's to effect the restoration of said pawl to normal against theaction of said spring.

FRANK SPALOSS.

